Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian invited his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, to visit the island to learn the meaning of liberty, independence, freedom of the press and of expression.
Mr Chen made the statement during a state visit to the South Pacific island-nation of Kiribati, one of the 25 countries with diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Hu Jintao could directly "understand what 23 million Taiwanese people really want," Chen said. "We are a free country ... there is nothing to hide, there is no propaganda and no media control," he added.
The provocative statement comes at a time when Beijing is pursing a strategy designed to weaken the Taiwan government, inviting representatives of the island's opposition parties.
Yesterday, the visit by Kuomintang president Lien Chan came to an end, but today that of opposition People First Party president James Soong begins.
Mr Lien's Beijing hosts showered him with gifts and promises but ruled out any direct contacts with the Taiwanese government and President, guilty in their eyes of backing the island's pro-independence movements.
For mainland China, Taiwan is a 'rebel island' whose single destiny is to rejoin the motherland.
Back in March of this year, China adopted an anti-secession law that authorises the use of force should Taiwan declare itself independent.